Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-11-16
NEW YORK WOMEN WHO SHOOT.
Hunters Among the Fair Sex Who Handle
a Gun as Well as a Man.

Hunters Among the II AIR sex w no hAliuio
Gun Well as a Man.
I'D ike you TO make me first class
shotgun"
The speaker was New York woman Of
fashion and the place was a down town
Eun store After she had told the pro-
prietor that the gun was TO have % cal
iber barrel, was to be of the Greener style
and to weigh 12 pounds. and that she
wanted an extra set OF - caiiber rifle
barrels, and had left the store, the pro-
prietor said:
That order will cost her 1878. Are
there many lady hunters? l should say
there were. Perhaps You would be sur
prisetl TO he told that ut least SEQ women
of this city are at the present time in the
Adirondacks with their husbands, fathers
and brothers. hunting or fishing; but it is
a fact all the same Do they shoot big
gamer Certainly they do, and good
many more of this city's wealthy Indies
than you imagine have the record of
shooting a deer Many of them, too
shoot with great skill on the wing. and
they develop a great fondness for the
sport The way they handle rifle or
shotgun when they come in here would
surprise a man not used TO seeing that
sort of thing They take up gun and
bring it 10 the shoulder just as dexterous-
" as man does. They are just as intel
ligent regarding the weapon also, know
ins. exactly what length they want and
what bend of stock. ="
Are most OF the lady hunters mar
rieds''
'FI3y no means While large proper
ton of them are wives of sportsmcn, hay
ing learned to shoot when with their hus-
hnpIa ina nj rhAva oil
fine shots among the younger and unmar-
ried portion. Why, have some come in
here to buy guns who are not over IS or
II years old, and who are expert shots.
Only the other day very bright and ct
tractive young woman was brought in
here by her father 10 purchase a shotgun.
She was a fine shot and had been accus-
toned TO the use of firearms since she was
little girl. She was particularly expert
in shooting on the wing, and would bring
down as many birds as a regular sports
man would ordinarily No, they don't
care for fancy stocks silver mountings or
any fancy fixings, singular as it may
seem. What they seem to want is
plainly finished gun. but one that is of
first class material and can be depended
upon. Some Of the guns l have made for
ladies have cost as high as $3.50 each"
Are the guns for women made differ
emily in any way from those for mem"
Yes, We always make the stock shorter,
from IL to "a of an inch, the same as for
a boy II or IS years old. We sometimes,
also, make a hunting costume especially
for ladies. This is a corduroy, the iacket
being cut very like that usually worn by
sportsmen and the skirt close fitting The
cost of such a suit runs from $25 To $50.
Many of them while hunting wear boots
with broad soles.'
How do they stand the fatigue?'
Exceedingly well. Yes, | can give
you an example which will show you how
brave and enthusiastic they are as hunt
ers. 1t was in New Brunswick, last
month"; that Mr.. NJ. Adams, accompanied
by his wife, made n trip to the head
waters of the northwest Mramichi. Mrs.
Adams rode eighteen miles over por-
tage road on Il blackboard After a
days rest she went up the river
distance of nineteen miles with her
husband in a canoe. They camped all
night near the foot of the Bald noun
tains, the lady thus having the honor of
being the first white woman that ever
visited that wild region They returned
to their first days camp the next day
again in their canoe. Throughout the
whole Of the rough passage Mrs. Adams
pluck and endurance We're such that any
sportsman might have envied. New
York Mail and Express.